Mahalia Jackson: Gospel Singer and Civil Rights Champion (7)

Young Patriots

by Montrew Dunham, Cathy Morrison (Illustrations)

“Haley” Jackson grew up in poverty on the levees of New Orleans, hunting alligators along the Mississippi River for food and gathering driftwood for fuel with her brother Peter. But every Sunday, when her father preached at the Baptist Church, young Mahalia sang proudly in the choir—the youngest member at age five! Lively illustrations and engaging text pull young readers into the world in which Mahalia Jackson grew up. Whether constructing her doll’s braid from blades of grass, stuffing a cornhusk mattress, or adjusting to life in her Aunt Duke’s home after her mother died, young Mahalia displayed the persistence and courage that foreshadowed the civil rights champion and world-famous gospel singer she would become. Working as a maid and a laundress, she always found the time for her passion—singing her special brand of music known as gospel in churches. She met the challenge of being black in what was largely a white entertainment world, overcoming poverty and prejudice and pioneering the way for all aspiring African Americans who succeeded her. Singing for royalty, presidents, and working closely with her friend Martin Luther King, Haley never forgot her early days on the levee and she found special joy encouraging young African Americans to follow their ambitions. This replaces 0689717865.

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Mahalia Jackson's music so I snagged this one right up when I saw it in the children's section of our local library. I will be sharing it with my kids so they can appreciate the life behind some of our favorite gospel songs.

[Sara Kreps · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book itself wasn't bad but the title doesn't much apply to the content. The book effectively ends just as Mahalia is beginning her career as a gospel singer. As far as the civil rights "champion" part, all it offers to support that claim is a brief list of career highlights that include two times she sang for civil rights events, not at all justifying the term champion. As such, I found the book disappointing.

[Terry]

By introducing readers to the early life of a famous person, these books illustrate how life experiences and personal qualities and characteristics shape your future. Mahalia Jackson's is just an excellent story.

See how we recommend using this book with young readers in the full review.